Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Poured All Over Xiao Fengxing’s Head

“Little General Gu!” Fu Mingzhu exclaimed in surprise, “I didn’t expect you all to be next door.”

“Indeed.” Gu Yunze replied with delight, moving a little closer to Fu Mingzhu.

Although there were two balconies, they were only separated by a railing, actually quite close together.

Gu Yunze, through the railing, said to Fu Mingzhu, “I just heard the Second Prince and others in the hallway. Did they bother you?”

Fu Mingzhu nodded, “They thought we were easy targets, but fortunately, Marquis Changping was here to drive them away.”

“That’s good.” Gu Yunze thought for a moment and said, “Don’t let unrelated people spoil the New Year’s Eve mood.”

“Of course.” Fu Mingzhu smiled and said, “Seeing them leave humiliated, I feel even better.”

Gu Yunze chuckled quietly.

Downstairs, Xiao Fengxing stood frozen, observing how Gu Yunze and Fu Mingzhu conversed happily.

Lin Qingqing whispered, “I didn’t expect Little General Gu to be so close with Fu Mingzhu. It seems like he… quite likes her.”

“Impossible.” Xiao Fengxing couldn’t help raising his voice a bit, “Little General Gu is the direct heir of his family. How could he take interest in a concubine’s daughter!”

With malice, Xiao Fengxing scornfully said, “Even if he does, she could only become a concubine. The Gu family would never approve of Gu Yunze marrying a daughter of concubines.”

Lin Qingqing, seeing Gu Yunze’s tall figure, standing beside Fu Mingzhu looking even more heroic, couldn’t help but lower her eyes.

[Ding! Xiao Fengxing fortune value -5, Lin Qingqing fortune value -5, Fu Mansion fortune value +5, Xiao Chengyu fortune value +5]

Fu Shinian caught sight of this message in her mind and instinctively looked down in surprise.

She just happened to see Xiao Fengxing looking up in the direction of Fu Mingzhu and Gu Yunze.

In contrast, Lin Qingqing kept her head down, pondering some sinister plan.

Fu Shinian sneered, holding a cup of hot tea for warmth, now cooled.

She casually lifted her hand and spilled it all over Xiao Fengxing’s head.

“Who!” Xiao Fengxing looked up angrily.

Fu Shinian covered her mouth, “Ah, how come the Second Young Master is still down there? Really sorry, I didn’t see.”

The cold wind blew at his wet hair, instantly making his scalp feel frozen like ice.

“Achoo!” Xiao Fengxing sneezed in the street.

He glared angrily at Fu Shinian, then quickly turned and left.

After watching the fireworks, Fu Shinian and the others returned home early.

They needed to wake up early tomorrow to go to the palace for New Year greetings.

It was a tradition in Great Xi.

Officials and their families had to enter the palace on the first day of the New Year.

To participate in the New Year’s blessing ceremony, praying for a peaceful year and a bountiful harvest.

Madam Fu had people cut roasted buns and jerky into small pieces, distributing them to Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian, telling them to put them in their pouches.

“If you get really hungry, eat some secretly, but be discreet, and don’t let anyone see.” Madam Fu instructed.

Since Fu Changqin hadn’t yet achieved any official rank, he didn’t have to undergo such hardships.

Fu Shinian couldn’t help but envy Fu Changqin.

“Why do we have to go?” Fu Shinian yawned in the carriage, still very sleepy.

“All young women of age must attend, but it’s just once a year, hang in there.” Madam Fu consoled.

Upon arriving at the palace, they happened to meet Yu Jingyun and Xiao Yingyue.

Seeing the always composed Yu Jingyun, who never had a hair out of place, now looking a bit weary.

Fu Shinian felt a bit better, realizing that she wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

With Xu Xiuyu and Zhou Xiulin grounded, even without the restriction, they weren’t allowed to attend the palace today.

So Lin Qingqing was left alone again, following Mrs. Lin, with no one paying her much attention.

Seeing Mrs. Lin looking a bit worried, Lin Qingqing proudly raised her chin, “Mother, don’t worry, those who ignore me are just sycophants. They will regret their choices soon enough.”

“Do you have a plan?” Mrs. Lin asked.

“Of course.” Lin Qingqing confidently replied.

Mrs. Lin sighed, saying, “Qingqing, maybe it’s time to let it go. I think our family is fine as it is now. With your father’s capability, he might not become a high-ranking official, but he can still ascend a bit more, which is quite good.”

Crucially, despite Lin Qingqing’s efforts, there were little results, and things often didn’t pan out well at all.

She wanted to make a good impression in front of the Empress, but in the end, she only bolstered the Fu sisters, causing the Empress’s regard for Lin Qingqing to wane.

She almost got reprimanded alongside Xu Xiuyu.

She had confidently claimed that Xiao Fengxing would surely marry her, only to find out he turned his attention to a maid in the concubine’s room.

Piece by piece, these incidents made Mrs. Lin doubt Lin Qingqing’s potential for success.

After all that effort, it might all be in vain.

“Mother!” Lin Qingqing sternly said, “You may not want to help me, but don’t discourage me!”

“With father’s skill, reaching the Imperial Academy and becoming a fifth-rank official is as good as it’ll get in this life.” Lin Qingqing said, “And at his age, he’s only a sixth rank. What chance for advancement is there?”

“Don’t you want to live a carefree life like those from prestigious families? Owning numerous lands and shops, estates, and silver, buying whatever you wish, without having to mend clothes continuously? Only having a few presentable outfits, while the others are all patched, suitable only for wearing at home.”

“Don’t you desire to wear airy and breathable gauze in the summer? To wear warm and elegant furs in the winter?” Lin Qingqing asked.

“Of course I do, but…” Mrs. Lin said softly, “you’ve worked hard for so long without any results.”

Lin Qingqing was momentarily blocked by Mrs. Lin’s words, saying, “If success came easily with just a few attempts, father would have become the Grand Secretary long ago. If I fail after a few tries, it’s because it’s difficult, not something easily achieved.”

“Enough, no need to persuade me further,” Lin Qingqing impatiently said, “I have my own plans.”

Mrs. Lin hesitated to speak several times but ultimately said nothing further.

The blessing ceremony was long, and it even started to snow partway through.

Lin Qingqing stood at the end of the line, shivering from the cold.

She observed the ladies up front, like Fu Shinian, wrapped in luxurious and beautiful fox furs of various colors, looking entirely impervious to the wind.

The falling snow stopped on the surface of their furs.

They stood motionless, warmed by the furs, seemingly unaffected by the cold.

Unlike her, whose cloak was nearly soaked through with snow.

Lin Qingqing’s hands, clutched tightly within her cloak, formed fists. She was determined to change her circumstances and rise above.

After the blessing ceremony, everyone went to the hall for the palace banquet, a celebration of the new year shared between the monarch and ministers.

Because Old Madam Xiao was advanced in age, the Emperor and Empress had long exempted her from attending the ceremony.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep